Know Before You Go in New England and the Mid-Atlantic

Boating in New England and the Mid-Atlantic

Your actions on the water help keep you, your family and friends, your boat, and whales safe.

ALL marine mammals are protected under federal law by the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). Some threatened and endangered marine mammal species are also protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Both of these Acts prohibit the harassment of whales, which is any action that has the potential to injure whales or disturb their natural behaviors.

Laws

Approach Regulation for North Atlantic Right Whales: All vessels—including boats, kayaks, jet skis, and drones—to stay at least 500 yards (about 1/4 mile or 1,500 feet) away from North Atlantic right whales.

Speed restrictions for most vessels over 65 ft: At specific locations at different times of year these vessels must go 10 knots or less in Right Whale Seasonal Management Areas.

Guidelines & Best Practices

Approach guidelines for other whale species: Stay back at least 100 ft (300 ft is better) for humpbacks, fin, minke whales, and other whale species

Approach guidelines for other protected species: Stay back at least 150 ft from seals, dolphins, sea turtles, and sturgeon.

Go 10 knots or less in voluntary Slow Zones: NOAA Fisheries recommends going slow in areas in which right whales have been seen or heard, designated as Right Whale Slow Zones and Dynamic Management Areas. Learn more here. Sign up for email or text notifications here.

Keep a Look Out For Feeding Whales

The productive waters of New England and the Mid-Atlantic provide ample feeding opportunities for hungry whales! Feeding whales are especially unpredictable! Knowing how spot this behavior can help you know when to give extra space!

**Bubbles!** Keep an eye out and stay back: a feeding humpback whale could surface at any time!

**Open Mouths!** Wide open mouths lunging at the surface are humpback whales chasing bait fish to the surface. Give extra space so that you don’t get in their way!

**Skimming Mouths**! North Atlantic right whales will commonly skim the surface of the water. Note if you see big bumps on their snout called callosities and no fin on their back. Stay at least 500 yards away — it’s the law!

Reporting

To Report Injured, Dead or Entangled Marine Mammals and Sea Turtles in the Northeast US (Maine-Virginia), call NOAA’s hotline: 1-866- 755-6622.

Other regions click here for hotline information.

NOTE: Sightings may always be reported to the US Coast Guard via VHF Ch. 16. Go here to learn more about what should be reported.

Local Resources

Download the Whale Alert app for iPad, iPhone, and Android for real time updates on Slow Zones, SMAs, and other whale sightings. Through the app, users can report any live, dead, or distressed whale sightings to the appropriate response agency.

Whale Map: Interactive map of North Atlantic right whale sightings